Best Of

The electrician who my father used to hire to wire our boilers was trying to retire. Every time he showed up he'd try to teach me more about the wiring and controls of the boiler. More than anything, he left me with this, which is a little less true today than it was then but it still mostly works:
Bring an interruptible source of power to the boiler and connect the 120v wires. "After the power source, everything is either a switch or a load." He went on to say something like the switches (operating controls and safeties) are the ride and the load (gas valve) is the destination. But it was that line that gave me the A-HA moment and I've been building on that ever since.

You can't save everyone.

Measure twice, cut once.

Also, why is there never enough time to do it right, but there's always enough time to go back and do it over again?

Just FYI:
The company that told bFinacchio that they would only insulate the pipes for an additional fee, and only after the boiler's been running for a few weeks to make sure there are no insulation-ruining leaks, was mine.

Here's the boiler she wants to replace. All copper header not shown.

Apparently, unlike the company that installed her first boiler, we failed to convince her that we know what we're doing. That or we're just not up to the monumental task of replacing this EG-35.

The problem that the Original Poster laments is common with old house owners when seeking any antiquated trade. I would use the word obsolete, but that's a bit extreme for steam plumbing.

Try getting your glue chipped glass reproduced. Or your gold leafed house numbers painted. Or find repairs to plaster molding. Tile roofing? Repair to stonework or repointing of lime-pointed bricks. Heck, try to get a chimney crown repaired.

Old materials and antiquated crafts are time-consuming and labor intensive. As materials fall from everyday use and inflation increases commodity costs, prices for what were once everyday items soar.

If you need repairs to anything that isn't readily made anymore or stocked at Home Depot you'll hunt for the rare individual who has had the interest in and has taken the time and effort to become conversant in their application and repair. You'll have to pick through the jungle of fraudsters and phoneys who just want your money to find a craftsman.

The conversant, educated and reputable tradesman probably won't be the low bidder, either. People who are trained, educated, skilled and honest have no need to bid low or work cheap.